Counter with resiliently mounted detent and transfer means



July 26, 1966 NN T 3,262,641

COUNTER WITH RESILIENTLY MOUNTED DETENT AND TRANSFER MEANS iled June 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROBER R an M M 4 JOSEPH J. FICARO A 7' TORNE Y5 y 1966 R. HERMANN ETAL 3,262,641

COUNTER WITH RESILIENTLY MOUNTED DETENT AND TRANSFER MEANS Filed June 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7 7 1 6 422 w INVENTORS ROBERT HERMANN JOSEPH J. FICARO A TTORNEYS United States Patent "ice The present invention relates to counters having notable utility as vehicles odometers.

The principal aim of the present invention is to provide a new and useful odometer having a minimum number of parts which may be economically manufactured and .which may be readily assembled into a compact and reliable counter assembly.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide an improved and economical counter having a plurality of coaxial indicia bearing 'wheels of ascending order mounted on a supporting shaft and transfer mechanisms between adjacent lower and higher order wheels contained within the peripheral confines of the counter wheels.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a new and useful counter transfer and reset mechanism.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a new and improved counter wheel and shaft assembly and a useful and economical method of assembling the counter wheels on and disassembling them from the counter shaft.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide an improved counter having substantially identical indicia bearing wheels which may be constructed, as of plastic or sheet metal, by mass production methods and identical- 1y printed, as with the usual numeral sequence of 0 through 9, without reference to the particular installation or use of the counter or the angular location of the usual counter viewing window.-

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a new and useful counter that may be readily assembled for sturdy and reliable operation over a long service life.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a new and useful counter in which the counter wheels are mounted on a supporting shaft in contiguous relationship without transmitting axial forces therebetween and in which the wheels are independently retained against axial displacement on the shaft.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part .pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

- The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vie w, partly broken away and partly in section, of an embodiment of a counter incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section view of the counter taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section view of the counter taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view of the shaft of the counter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a method of the present invention for assembling the counter wheels onto the counter shaft; I

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of another embodiment of a counter incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of a further embodiment of a counter incorporating the present inventionyand 3,262,641 Patented July 26, 1966 FIG. 8 is a transverse section view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 14, an embodiment of a counter of the present invention, generally denoted by the numeral 10, is shown having a plurality of coaxial wheels 14-19 rotatably mounted on a supporting shaft 12 and, in the 'wellknown manner, the counter wheels 14-19 may be embellished with a suitable indicia, as for example the conventional numeral sequence 0 through 9 shown. The counter wheels are arranged in ascending order with the lowest order wheel 14 being suitably driven, as by a drive gear 20, and with the remaining counter wheels of higher order being indexed to display a succeeding indicia for each revolution of the adjacent lower order wheel. The counter 10 may be economically manufactured with the counter wheels 14-19 being of substantially identical construction, for which purpose the lowest order counter wheel 14 may be driven by an adaptor 22 rotatable on the shaft 12 and formed integrally with the counter drive gear 20 for detachable connection to the lowest order wheel 14.

1 Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the counter wheesl 14-19 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 are de signed for being manufactured of molded plastic and are shown having a cylindrical rim 30 bearing the numerical indicia, a central hub 32 preferably axially coterminous with the rim 30 and an intermediate web 34 having parallel recessed end faces 36, 38. The web 34 is shown provided with a pair of integrally formed generally diametrically opposed fingers 40, 42 having circumferentially extending resilient supporting arms or webs 44, 46 received within arcuate slots 48, 50, respectively, and

' which thereby enable the fingers to be resiliently displaced transversely of the shaft axis from their normal or unbiased positions.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the fingers 40, 42 are shown having axially spaced inward projections 52, 54, respectively, received within diametrically opposed axial slots 56, 58 in the wheel hub 32 for resilient engagement with the counter shaft 12. For receiving the axially spaced projections 52, 5 4 the shaft 12 is provided with circum ferentially extending grooves 62, 63, 64 and 65, respectively, which operate to retain the wheels against axial. displacement on the shaft and by appropriate spacing of the grooves to locate the counter wheels in contiguous noninterfering relationship. The grooves 62 are contoured toprovide axially aligned peripheral detent cams or wheels 66 of reduced diameter preferably'having a number of teeth 68 equal to the number of indicia, here ten, on the counter wheel. The detent wheel teeth 68 are positioned to cooperate with the inward V-shaped projections 52 of the fingers 40 of the higher order wheels 15-19, the =fingers40 thereby functioning as detent pawls for restraining the higher order counter wheels against rotation on the shaft 12 and to there-by maintain the indicia on the higher order counter wheels at their indexed angular positions. Preferably, however, the circumferentially extending groove 63 receiving the projection 52 of the lowest order counter Wheel 14 is formed to allow the I lowest order wheel 14 to be freely driven on the'shaft 12.

The fingers '42 are formed with axially and radially offset dogs 71 that are received within the annular recesses 73 between the hubs 32 and .rims 30 of the adjacent higher order wheels as seen in FIG. 1. The wheel rims 30 are formed with inwardly projecting lugs or teeth 72 angularly spaced about the rim and preferably corre spending in number with the number of ind-icia on the counter, there being shown in the present embodiment ten teeth 72 with an angular spacing of 36.

order counter wheels, the dogs 71 are positioned radially I For the ma or part of the turning movement of the adjacent lower" inwardly out of operative association with the teeth 72 whereby the adjacent higher and lower order wheels are independently rotatable. For timely displacing the finger dogs 71 transversely of the counter shaft into operative association with the teeth 72, the grooves 64 receiving the fingers 42 of the wheels 14-18 are contoured to provide axially aligned transfer cams 76 (FIG. 2) which function to operatively connect the adjacent higher and lower order wheels for an angular interval sufiicient to generate a transfer to the higher order wheel. Accordingly, the angularly spaced teeth 72 provide ratchet wheels selectively engageable by the fingers 42 which thereby function as ratchet pawls to connect the adjacent higher and lower order wheels. Inasmuch as the pawl 42 of the highest order wheel 19 does not function to generate a transfer, the groove 65 in the shaft receiving that pawl may be formed with a constant depth to reduce the torque required to index the wheel.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the teeth 72 are angularly spaced to allow the pawls 42 to be fully dis placed into operative association with the cooperating ratchet wheel prior to engagement with a tooth 72, it being understood that the transfer cam functions to displace the pawl between adjacent teeth 72 of the ratchet wheel by appropriate angular association of the axially aligned transfer cams 76 with the axially aligned detent wheels 66. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the transfer cams 76 are contoured to maintain the ratchet pawls in operative association with the ratchet wheels for approximately 46, the first being for ensuring displacement of the ratchet pawl into position between a pair of angularly spaced teeth and the remaining 36 being for indexing the higher order wheel one indicia, and with the detent pawl of the higher order wheel being centered in a notch of the detent wheel when the ratchet is released.

Referring to FIG. 2, the transfer cam 76 is contoured to provide a jump or spiral-type cam with a generally radial shoulder 78 for relatively rapid inward displacement of the ratchet pawl and therefore relatively rapid disengagement of the ratchet mechanism when the transfer has been completed. However, for displacing the ratchet pawl outwardly into operative association with the ratchet wheel, the transfer cam 76 preferably provides at 80 for a relatively gradual displacement of the ratchet pawl, it being seen that cam edge 82 between the cam edge portion 80 and the cam shoulder 78 provides for maintaining the ratchetpawl in operative association with the ratchet wheel for substantially 46.

Although, while the counter is being driven by the drive gear 20, the counter shaft 12 is normally retained against angular movement, the shaft may be additionally used as a reset shaft for resetting or zeroizing the counter wheels, for which purpose the counter shaft is shown havinga reset drive gear 90 secured to the end thereof. The resetting operation is accomplished by rotating the shaft 12 in the counting direction while restraining, as by manually retarding, the rotation of the counter wheels. The shoulders 78 of the transfer earns 76 will as a result engage the oppositely facing shoulders 92 of the ratchet pawls to individually rotate the counter wheels with the shaft. By sufficient rotation of the shaft all the ratchet pawls will be so engaged and the identical numerical indicia on the wheels will be in alignment. The shaft can then be further rotated in the counting direction to simultaneously zero all the wheels.

Referring to FIG. 5, the counter wheels 14-19 may be readily assembled onto the counter shaft merely by first displacing the resilient detent and ratchet pawls outwardly from their unbiased positions and by subsequently assembling the wheels onto the shaft. Such assembly is facilitated by inserting a pair of pointed rods 99 between the hubs 32 and the webs or arms 44, 46 of the wheels, the rods 99 having a diameter suitable to displace the resilient pawls 40, 42 outwardly clear of the hub openings. The wheel subassembly is then mounted on the shaft and the rods removed with the shaft grooves 62-65 aligned for receiving the detent and ratchet pawls 40, 42.

Another embodiment of a counter of the present invention is shown in part in FIG. 6 wherein a detent pawl 100 and a ratchet pawl 102 are axially positioned to be received in axially overlying relatively deep and shallow grooves 104, 106, respectively. The deep groove 104 is shown centrally positioned in the shallow groove and is contoured to define a detent cam or wheel 108 with detent notches 110. The shallow groove 106 is contoured to define a transfer cam 112 for operating the ratchet pawl 102 as in the embodiment of FIGS. l-4.

A third embodiment of a counter of the present invention is shown in part in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment a counter wheel is formed from sheet metal to provide an indicia bearing rim 122, a radial flange or web 124, and a central hub 126 for rotatably supporting the wheel on a counter shaft 128. For providing a ratchet wheel, the radial flange 124 is pierced to provide angularly spaced tangs 130 forming the ratchet wheel lugs or teeth. An appropriate ratchet pawl 132 is shown provided by suitably forming an axially extending finger 134 with the hub 126 and by forming, as by twisting, the axial end of the finger to provide cam follower and ratchet dog portions 136, 138, respectively. As the tangs 130 project axially into the annulus formed between the rim and hub of the adjacent lower order wheel, the pawl 132 by resilient displacement transversely of the shaft axis can be moved into operative association with the ratchet wheel of the adjacent higher order counter wheel. A second axially extending finger formed with the wheel hub 126 provides an appropriate detent pawl in resilient engagement with a detent wheel 142 having suitable detent notches 144.

Alternatively to the solid counter shown in the embodiments of FIGS. l-4 and 6, the counter shaft 128 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 is shown formed of rolled sheet metal and with the sheet metal 150 being appropriately stamped or otherwise formed with the transfer cam grooves and the detent notches 144 prior to being rolled into generally cylindrical shape.

Thus it can be seen that the counter of the present invention comprises a minimum number of parts that are adapted for being economically manufactured of molded plastic and/or sheet metal. Additionally, with the counter of the present invention not only can the parts be contained within the peripheral confines of the counter wheels but the normally stationary counter shaft may be used for resetting the counter. Further, the counter wheels may be identically constructed without reference to the particular use of the counter, may be combined to form a compact counter assembly and are adapted for independent support on the counter shaft.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A counter comprising a generally cylindrical counter shaft with a plurality of axially spaced circumferentially extending grooves forming a plurality of axially spaced detent cams of reduced diameter and a plurality of axially spaced transfer cams of reduced diameter, a plurality of coaxial counter wheels of unitary construction rotatably mounted on the counter shaft in side-by-side contiguous relationship, the counter'wheels having integrally formed transversely resilient detent pawls received in the grooves forming the detent cams respectively to assist in axially retaining the counter wheels against axial displacement on the counter shaft, the detent pawls being in resilient engagement with the detent cams respectively to provide detents for restraining the counter wheels against angular displacement on the counter shaft, and transfer means between adjacent higher and lower order counter wheels including ratchet means with angularly spaced teeth integrally formed on the higher order counter wheels and transversely resilient ratchet pawls integrally formed on the lower order counter wheels and received within the grooves forming the transfer cams of reduced diameter to assist in axially retaining the counter wheels against axial displacement on the counter shaft, the ratchet pawls being in resilient engagement with the transfer cams respectively for generating transfers to higher order counter wheels respectively, and the detent and ratchet pawlsbeing substantially diametrically opposed to provide for preventing the counter wheels from cooking on the counter shaft.

2. A counter comprising a generally cylindrical counter shaft, a plurality of coaxial counter wheels of ascending order having a peripheral rim, a central hub receiving the counter shaft for rotatably supporting the counter wheel thereon, and an intermediate web, detent means including axially spaced circumferentially extending grooves on the shaft forming axially spaced detent cam-s of reduced diameter on the shaft and circumferentially extending transversely resilient detent pawls integrally formed in the webs of the counter wheels by slots in the webs, the detentpawls being received in the grooves forming the detent cams respectively to assist in axially retaining the counter wheels against axial displacement on the counter shaft and being in resilient engagement with the detent cams respectively to provide detents for restraining the counter wheels against angular displacement on the counter shaft; and transfer means between adjacent number wheels of lower and higher order including axially spaced circumferentially extending grooves on the shaft forming axially spaced transfer cams of reduced diameter on the shaft, ratchet means on the adjacent wheels of higher order, and circumferentially extending resilient ratchet pawls integrally formed in the webs of the adjacent wheels of lower order by slots in the webs and transversely displaceable into operative engagement with the ratchet means of the adjacent wheels of higher order, the ratchet pawls having inwardly projecting cam followers respectively received in the grooves forming the transfer cams of reduced diameter to assist in axially retaining the counter wheels against axial displacement on the counter shaft and being in resilient operative engagement with the transfer cams respectively for generating transfers to adjacent higher order wheels respectively, the central hubs of the counter wheels having slot openings receiving the detent pawls and the inwardly projecting cam followers of the ratchet pawls for receipt within the respective grooves in the shaft and for engagement with the detent cams and the transfer cams respectively, and the detent and ratchet pawls being substantially diametrically opposed to provide for preventing the-counter wheels from cocking on the counter shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 232,983 10/1880 Lauten-schlager 235142 X- 534,133 2/1895 Bean 235142 X 728,502 5/1903 Sandage 235142 X 899,482 9/1908 Crawley. 1,189,139 6/1916 Lamb 235117.1 1,426,434 8/ 1922 Williamson 235142 1,566,628 12/1925 Stosick 235-1 17 X 1,615,399 1/1927 Orth 235117 X 2,198,063 4/1940 Seignol et al 235142 2,359,575 10/ 1944 Norman et al 29-433 2,362,221 11/1944 Sundback 29148 2,444,570 7/1948 Lawrence et a1 235l.3 X 2,810,243 10/ 1957 Mellowes 29-433 3,008,220 11/1961 Sammarco 29--148.4 3,149,780 9/1964 Solari 235144 V FOREIGN PATENTS 502,263 5/1920 France.

735,443 8/ 1955 Great Britain.

LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner.

C. G. COVELL, J. G. MURRAY, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A COUNTER COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL COUNTER SHAFT WITH A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED CIRCUMFERNTIALLY EXTENDING GROOVES FROMING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED DETENT CAMS OF REDUCED DIAMETER AND A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED TRANSFER CAMS OF REDUED DIAMETER, A PLURALITY OF COAXIAL COUNTER WHEELS OF UNITARY CONSTRUCTION ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE COUNTER SHAFT IN SIDE-BY-SIDE CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP, THE COUNTER WHEELS HAVING INTEGRALLY FORMED TRANSVERSELY RESILIENT DETENT PAWLS RECEIVED IN THE GROOVES FORMING THE DETENT CAMS RESPECTIVELY TO ASSIST IN AXIALLY RETAINING THE COUNTER WHEELS AGAINST AXIAL DISPLACEMENT ON THE COUNTER SHAFT, THE DETENT PAWLS BEING IN RESILIENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DETENT CAMS RESPECTIVELY TO PROVIDE DETENTS FOR RESTRAINING THE COUNTER WHEELS AGAINST ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT ON THE COUNTER SHAFT, AND TRANSFER MEANS BETWEEN ADJACENT HIGHER AND LOWER ORDER COUNTER WHEELS INCLUDING FORMED ON THE HIGHER ORDER COUNTER WHEELS AND GRALLY FORMED ON THE HIGHER ORDER COUNTER WHEELS AND TRANSVERSELY RESILIENT RATCHET PAWLS INTEGRALLY FORMED ON THE LOWER ORDER COUNTER WHEELS AND RECEIVED WITHIN THE GROOVES FORMING THE TRANSFER CAMS OF REDUCED DIAMETER TO ASSIST IN AXIALLY RETAINING THE COUNTER WHEELS AGAINST AXIAL DISPLACEMENT ON THE COUNTER SHAFT, THE RATCHET PAWLS BEING IN RESILIENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TRANSFER CAMS RESPECTIVELY FOR GENERATING TRANSFERS TO HIGHER ORDER COUNTER WHEELS RESPECTIVELY, AND THE DETENT AND RATCHET BEING SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO PROVIDE FOR PREVENTING THE COUNTER WHEELS FROM COCKING ON THE COUNTER SHAFT. 